1
Introductions / Re: Introducing Shandra23
« on: November 30, 2015, 12:56:22 PM »
Welcome aboard! That commute sounds crazy! Here's hoping your calligraphy gives you a great stress-relief from all that driving!
Marc
Marc
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2
Introductions / Re: Howdy from San Antonio, TX
« on: November 30, 2015, 12:53:35 PM »
Welcome aboard, Tom!
My eldest son is a lefty but plays guitar and does a bunch of other things right handed -- always kind of amazes me since (as a righty) my left hand is basically best suited to holding my chin up in meetings.
I hope you get as much out of FF as I do!
Marc
My eldest son is a lefty but plays guitar and does a bunch of other things right handed -- always kind of amazes me since (as a righty) my left hand is basically best suited to holding my chin up in meetings.
I hope you get as much out of FF as I do!
Marc
3
Show & Tell / Re: My God, its full of stars.
« on: November 30, 2015, 12:43:19 PM »
Hal talks back:
4
Tools & Supplies / Re: A Cast of Falcons
« on: November 25, 2015, 01:55:07 PM »
Nicely done! I love seeing comparison shots like these.
In this line up, is there one in particular that you go to more than the others?
I've got the Pilot Falcon (via massdrop a little while back) and love it. I got the Fine (technically soft fine) but generally only use it as a monoline -- a bit too chicken to flex it out! It does seem to like a four-knuckles up approach to holding it, when I do give it some flex. It's by many multiples the most expensive pen I've ever splurged on, and have zero regrets spending the money. Enjoy!
Marc
In this line up, is there one in particular that you go to more than the others?
I've got the Pilot Falcon (via massdrop a little while back) and love it. I got the Fine (technically soft fine) but generally only use it as a monoline -- a bit too chicken to flex it out! It does seem to like a four-knuckles up approach to holding it, when I do give it some flex. It's by many multiples the most expensive pen I've ever splurged on, and have zero regrets spending the money. Enjoy!
Marc
5
Introductions / Re: Hi from Virginia
« on: November 21, 2015, 12:47:28 PM »
Welcome aboard, Susan!
It's so uncanny what you said about being awarded an Osmiroid fountain pen. I've been trying to reconstruct specifics from only fragments of memories that either 3rd or 4th grade (and we're talking later part of 1970's for me here!) we abruptly stopped learning cursive (Sidebar: I was definitely among the students who were gobsmacked over this -- I'd really worked hard on my cursive, and was proud that I could finally do it, only to be told: Okay, now stop that because you'll be doing this other thing! Feh!), and learned something they were calling "loop free writing" (something loosely based upon italic I think) and those of us who demonstrated some level of proficiency it were awarded an Osmiroid! I remember the day I got that pen, and how fascinated I was by the ink cartridge.
The thing is, I was raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, a long way from you in Virginia! Spooky teacher synchronization there, or something!
Marc
It's so uncanny what you said about being awarded an Osmiroid fountain pen. I've been trying to reconstruct specifics from only fragments of memories that either 3rd or 4th grade (and we're talking later part of 1970's for me here!) we abruptly stopped learning cursive (Sidebar: I was definitely among the students who were gobsmacked over this -- I'd really worked hard on my cursive, and was proud that I could finally do it, only to be told: Okay, now stop that because you'll be doing this other thing! Feh!), and learned something they were calling "loop free writing" (something loosely based upon italic I think) and those of us who demonstrated some level of proficiency it were awarded an Osmiroid! I remember the day I got that pen, and how fascinated I was by the ink cartridge.
The thing is, I was raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, a long way from you in Virginia! Spooky teacher synchronization there, or something!
Marc
6
Introductions / Re: Hello from Jakarta
« on: November 21, 2015, 12:35:48 PM »
Welcome aboard, Arlene! You will find no better community of helpful and enthusiastic people than right here!
Marc
Marc
7
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Panera logo - what does it communicate
« on: November 20, 2015, 12:54:30 AM »
I had to google on Panera to figure out it's actually a HUGE nationwide (US) chain. I take the kids once in a while, we generally like their food, and I'd never really paid much attention to the lettering of the word Panera until getting serious about pointed pen and calligraphy in general.
So tell me, gurus and sages, what the heck is really being communicated in this logo? It sure seems to be a huge mess. What's your take?
Edit: And, do you like it? Is this an effective logo? If so, what makes it effective? (Does it's haphazardness only irritate calligraphers??
)
So tell me, gurus and sages, what the heck is really being communicated in this logo? It sure seems to be a huge mess. What's your take?
Edit: And, do you like it? Is this an effective logo? If so, what makes it effective? (Does it's haphazardness only irritate calligraphers??
)
8
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Example of Monolime Italic Handwriting
« on: November 19, 2015, 05:15:09 PM »
Thank you so much Ken, this is fantastic!!
What do you recommend for ascenders/descenders for minuscules? Eyeballing it looks like 0.5/1/0.5 -- is that about right?
The curve in the "chin" on your capital G, so amazing! The whole thing is absurdly wonderful, but that G just kills me!
Thank you again!
Marc
What do you recommend for ascenders/descenders for minuscules? Eyeballing it looks like 0.5/1/0.5 -- is that about right?
The curve in the "chin" on your capital G, so amazing! The whole thing is absurdly wonderful, but that G just kills me!
Thank you again!
Marc
9
Tools & Supplies / Re: My latest penholders
« on: November 19, 2015, 11:55:19 AM »
I completely understand that, all things being equal, making the flange cut not go all the way through the pen is what you're all after aesthetically. No question, if that's what you're after, then engineering a workable solution is where some of the satisfaction in this pursuit will come for you, and you should totally chase that.
That being said though, I want to point something out for your consideration.
I own two pen holders that I absolutely adore. Both from PIA, the Hourglass Adjustable Oblique, and the (straight) Adjustable Oblique. I have no idea who the actual maker is, but look at the photo I've attached showing how this maker has treated the flange cut.
The hourglass (left) shows, in contrast to the grain, that the cut was made at an angle. That angle isn't as immediately obvious when you look at it from the opposite side. When I first held the hourglass it was apparent that I was holding something that someone with skill had obsessed over in design and execution. Allowing the angled cut to show but then finishing the brass and wood so perfectly that they are completely flush, seamless and smooth is a wonderful compromise, in my opinion, and was made into an opportunity to demonstrate obvious craftsmanship. As a newbie, I was a bit worried about doing the flange bend and tweak Dr. Joe Vitolo shows in his video. This maker makes it clear, in that cut, that it's a tweak already in-built to their design. Honestly, I think it's brilliant to do it this way.
So perhaps this maker originally wanted to avoid an exit cut; I have no idea. But as it stands, I think the cut, and it's obsessively perfect finish, stands as a defining quality of this holder.
Marc
That being said though, I want to point something out for your consideration.
I own two pen holders that I absolutely adore. Both from PIA, the Hourglass Adjustable Oblique, and the (straight) Adjustable Oblique. I have no idea who the actual maker is, but look at the photo I've attached showing how this maker has treated the flange cut.
The hourglass (left) shows, in contrast to the grain, that the cut was made at an angle. That angle isn't as immediately obvious when you look at it from the opposite side. When I first held the hourglass it was apparent that I was holding something that someone with skill had obsessed over in design and execution. Allowing the angled cut to show but then finishing the brass and wood so perfectly that they are completely flush, seamless and smooth is a wonderful compromise, in my opinion, and was made into an opportunity to demonstrate obvious craftsmanship. As a newbie, I was a bit worried about doing the flange bend and tweak Dr. Joe Vitolo shows in his video. This maker makes it clear, in that cut, that it's a tweak already in-built to their design. Honestly, I think it's brilliant to do it this way.
So perhaps this maker originally wanted to avoid an exit cut; I have no idea. But as it stands, I think the cut, and it's obsessively perfect finish, stands as a defining quality of this holder.
Marc
10
Introductions / Re: Hello
« on: November 18, 2015, 02:11:39 PM »
Welcome aboard Dave! I'm a software developer (LAMP stack) in Northern California, and Google was right to bring you here! I think you'll find no better community than this one on FF.
Enjoy!
Marc
I think you'll find no better community than this one on FF.Enjoy!
Marc
11
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Signatures
« on: November 18, 2015, 01:59:51 PM »Do you use calligraphy for it and make it something beautiful? Do you scribble something up resembling sort-of-ish letters? Do you make it legible?
This is how my bank knows me (as if banks still know us this way, Ha!) That's a dot at the end of my signature and I have no idea why, or when, that started, but I do remember working to develop a new "adult" signature when I was in my early 20's and it's degraded into this hot mess!
Marc
12
Word of the Day / Re: Merry Christmas
« on: November 17, 2015, 05:11:36 PM »I did a quick example of a straight copperplate and then how you could add a couple of flourishes. I tried to do it similar to the one you are practicing. I hope it helps.
Those flourishes, Erica, just spectacular! Brava!
Marc
13
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Didn't want to be "left" out...
« on: November 13, 2015, 12:02:30 AM »OOH! I cannot help but share the talents that my left hand possesses. I think just a day or so more of practice should be sufficient.
*jokes. all jokes.*
Love it! I propose naming this "Drunkenplate" LOL
Marc
14
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: Didn't want to be "left" out...
« on: November 12, 2015, 09:05:26 PM »I'm totally useless with my left hand. I'm so right-handed, I can barely form a single, legible word with my left hand!
Must I beg, then? LOL! Fine, I'm begging.
Ken, please write something -- literally anything -- with your left hand, it would be completely fascinating to see!This goes for all you uber-skilled calligraphers: there's no competition here other than you don't want to be that one who doesn't participate in this! And if anyone's naturally ambidextrous, even more fascinating still to see the differences.
Marc
15
Open Flourish | General Discussion / Didn't want to be "left" out...
« on: November 12, 2015, 01:37:26 PM »
You all tolerate me so well (so far!)
What does your other side say?
Marc
What does your other side say?
Marc